Putting skills to work: Stimson workers get help looking at options after lumber mill closure

Ninety-two workers at Stimson Lumber Co. who face an indefinite layoff in mid-May from the Bonner plant were briefed Tuesday on their options for retraining, education and other prospects by a variety of government agencies.

The briefings, held in two sessions at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bonner, urged the millworkers to start considering their future plans.

“There are some of us who are just bamboozled by the ‘what next’ step,” said Larry Keogh, a sawmill equipment operator since 1990.

Wolf Ametsbichler, manager of the Missoula Job Service, said his outfit would enroll workers in all the programs at once, so the process would be “seamless.”

“I feel your pain,” Ametsbichler said. “You’ve been in one occupation for many, many years. (But) you’ll be amazed at how many of those skills are transferable.”

By PAMELA J. PODGER of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/04/23/news/mtregional/news06.txt